A world shrouded in mystery and intrigue, the Sisterhood of Epione must not be exposed.

Shape-shifting nymph Ariadne Papadakis is tasked with keeping the truth of the group’s existence and their ancient mysteries far out of reach of the American archeologist, Beau Morris and his troublemaking son, Kaden. When forgotten and forbidden passions are awakened, Ariadne is forced make a choice - fall in line and continue to be overrun and pushed down by the sisterhood, or follow her heart and put Beau and Kaden’s lives in danger.

Can she have the man she loves or will the pressure and secrets of her past keep her from her heart’s desire?

My recap:

Long ago, the nymph goddess Epione denied Zeus her bed. In retaliation, he cursed all nymphs. If they fell in love with a human, then that man would die a tragic death.

Fast-forward to present day Crete. Archeologist Dr. Beau Morris believes that he has found the site of a mythical Labyrinth. His colleagues think that he is a crackpot, but he is determined to prove them wrong. Ariadne Papadakis, a millennia-old nymph and member of a sisterhood of nymphs, is tasked with sabotaging and shutting down his dig. Unfortunately, she is drawn to Beau. But she can't fall in love with him, or she will be the death of him.

Beau's ex-wife drops off his surly, estranged son, Kaden. Kaden meets and falls in love with a nymph, and soon becomes mortally ill. The only way to save him is for Ariadne to stand up to the sisterhood and betray its secrets. Should she save Kaden's life and gain her own chance at love? Or should she keep the sisterhood's secrets?

My analysis:

Danica Winters has written a book that stands out from the crowd due to her imaginative use of Greek mythology and snake-shifting nymphs. (Snake-phobics, fear not. Not too much is made of the snake-shifting.) The Nymph's Labyrinth is like no other.

Beau and Ariadne are both likable characters that you'll pull for. You'll want Beau to save his reputation and reconcile with his son. You'll want Ariadne to kick some ass and stand up for herself, and that's her journey. You'll want them to circumvent the curse and find their HEA. They both have much to lose, but they belong together.

There is much suspense as Beau and Ariadne face jealousy, grief, and danger together. You'll find yourself reading "just one more chapter" again and again.

The Nymph's Labyrinth is an original, strong start to The Nymph Series. The next book is Montana Musings, followed by Winter Swans.

Gates of Rapture

From the publisher:As a vampire and a warrior, Leto Distra is deadly. But after years of being forced to drink dying blood, he is now part beast—a wild savage thing lurking beneath the surface. With war on the horizon, Leto is determined to help the Guardians of Ascension destroy the enemy who turned him into a monster. And there’s only one woman who can help him.

Grace Albion is certain that she’s meant to be with Leto, but their future may be cut short by the impending battle. Now Grace must embrace her obsidian flame powers—and bind her powers with Leto’s—if they’re ever going to survive. With the fate of the world at stake, they must tap into powers they never knew they had…and unlock their deepest passions.

My take on Gates of Rapture:

Leto was thought to be a traitor to the Warriors of the Blood, but it was revealed that he'd been a spy in the enemy's army—Darian Greaves' army—for 100 years. Previously, Grace rescued Leto from Greaves and Leto and Grace discovered that they were brehs, fated mates. Unfortunately, Grace also discovered that she was the breh of the hedonistic enemy, Casimir. She sees in a vision that she must leave Leto and be with Casimir in order for Leto to survive in the future. And so she hurts Leto and leaves with Casimir.

Early in Gates of Rapture, Grace returns to Leto. At the time, Leto is in a form that he calls his "beast." He morphs into a larger, more deadly version of himself that he can't control. He despises the form. He blames it on having to partake of dying blood while he was under Greaves' command. But is his beast form what he believes it to be?

The war between Greaves' army and the good guys—Endelle's army—has reached its peak. Leto, the ultimate general among the Warriors of the Blood, has used his skills to build up Endelle's army. And used his knowledge of Greaves and his army against him. For her part, Grace is a powerful member of a trio of woman known as obsidian flame. To unlock her powers fully she must complete her mating with Leto. But are they ready for that step? What will happen if they're not? And even if they unlock the full strength of her powers, will they be enough to defeat the army that Leto built for Greaves and his death vampires?

♥

Gates of Rapture is about the culmination of the war between Greaves' and Endelle's forces, which the entire series has been leading up to. It's a Christmas present that loyal fans will enjoy unwrapping.

Leto is a hero to die for—and Grace just might. He's a sexy, commanding, powerful, alpha male who nonetheless is tender and understanding with Grace. Leto's journey is one of forgiveness, acceptance of himself, and redemption for his years as a spy. The truth of his beast form is significant, but I don't want to wreck the revelation.

Grace is on her own journey, one of learning to live life out of the cocoon that she has wrapped around herself. She has her name down pat—she is full of grace. But she must learn to trust in herself, be brave, and be bold. The fates of Mortal Earth and Second Earth rest upon her shoulders. She is the pivotal member of obsidian flame. Both she and Leto play crucial roles in the showdown with Greaves.

Although Grace and Leto have had their eyes on each other for two thousand years, and Grace even wrote erotic poetry about Leto while in the convent, they aren't sure they can make their relationship work now that they are finally together. They have both been through too much to let down their guards.

Casimir returns a changed man in a surprising new role. No spoilers here. The relationship between Casimir and Leto is complicated, and they have much to work out between them.

The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful. The war with Greaves becomes personal and deadly for Grace and Leto. As the key to obsidian flame, Greaves wants to eliminate Grace. And he has a score to settle with his traitorous former general.

Fan-favorite Thorne plays a large role in Gates of Rapture, as do Alison, Fiona, and Marguerite, of course. All of the Warriors of the Blood have their parts to play. Endelle is surprised with a revelation that I loved!

Many story lines seem to be wrapped up ("seem" being the operative word), and we catch up with all the Warriors and their brehs. The books is a satisfying end to the series. But is it the end? Not really. St. Martin's Press will no longer be publishing The Warriors of Ascension series, but Caris Roane will be self-publishing the stories of Luken, Zacharius, and Santiago. And she'll be taking us to Third Earth. Luken's book will be released in the summer of 2013, and I'm looking forward to his story!

As a war wages between the immortals of Atlantis and those of the vampire realm, a Poseidon warrior fights to save his world—and the woman he loves. And no risk is too great.

The desires of a high priest.

Alaric, Poseidon’s High Priest, has made a vow to Quinn, the woman he loves and the leader of the Resistance: to save her friend Jack before his last bit of humanity has been drained. Should Alaric succeed, there’s one intimate danger: he may lose Quinn to the love of the man whose life he saved. But damn Atlantis to the nine hells, he’s willing to put Quinn’s wishes first, regardless of the consequences.

The warning of a threat reborn. The final jewel of Poseidon’s trident has turned up in the hands of mysterious Ptolemy Reborn, who claims to be descended from Atlantean royalty. He’s about to reveal to the world that Atlantis is real, positioning himself as king. But this magical terrorist is bent on chaos. The only warrior who can stop him is following his own path, driven by the even more powerful force of love. Atlantean powers over the sea could prove just as cataclysmic—for Quinn’s love, Alaric might drown the entire world.

♥

As Heart of Atlantis opens, Quinn and Alaric are sequestered with tiger-shifter Jack, in the hope that Jack will regain his humanity. Alaric has distanced himself from the search for Poseidon’s jewels in favor of concentrating on Quinn, the forbidden love of his life. Too bad that Alaric, as Poseidon's High Priest, must remain celibate.It's not long before trouble finds Quinn and Alaric, in the form of a powerful impostor named Ptolemy. Ptolemy outs Atlantis and claims to be its rightful king. He also blows Quinn's cover by showing her photo on international television. He asks her to contact him. And, oh yeah, Ptolemy has the final gem for Poseidon's Trident, the one jewel necessary to control the Trident and raise Atlantis.Never one to stand idly by when the fate of the world hangs in the balance, Quinn soon puts herself in mortal danger. And Alaric will do anything—anything—to save her. At the same time, Atlantis is in dire straits, and is a drain on his power.There is shaky evidence that Alaric's power will increase if he soul-melds with Quinn, and ends his celibacy. If it's true, he can save Atlantis and get the girl. If it's not, well, everyone dies. Do Quinn and Alaric dare take the chance for love?

♥

Heart of Atlantis is a real treat for fans of the Warriors of Poseidon series. Most readers have probably been in love with Alaric and sympathetic to his plight throughout the series. He's been all-powerful, broodingly lovesick, and achingly celibate. And he's gorgeous and built like a warrior. What's not to love?

Although I haven't always been fond of Quinn, she is appealing, touching, sassy, brave, and kick-butt in Heart of Atlantis. Alyssa Day won me over with her character:"[Quinn] wanted to do what she'd never done before—surrender. To Alaric's strength and protection. A purely feminine impulse that was so shocking to her, she who'd lived her life as a fighter. He made her want to love and protect and be cherished in return."

The plot is packed with action, powerful magic, suspense, and mortal danger to Quinn and Atlantis. Both new and old enemies show up for the final showdown.

As Heart of Atlantis is the end of the series, many loose ends are tied up. Fans will be delighted with the events, but sorry to see The End.

Take heart, however. Alyssa has announced that there will still be a few Atlantis novellas to wrap up some important characters' story lines. Denal's story is one of them. Jack will not only get his own book, but his own series. An announcement will be made in 2013 about that. Her new series, The League of the Black Swan, debuts May 7, 2013, with The Cursed.Enjoy Heart of Atlantis!

Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament— to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . . .

♥

That's the spiel from the publisher, but what really happens in the story? I'll try to give you the set-up without spoilers.

Bettina, the future queen of the plane of Abaddon, survives a vicious attack by enemies. To appease her godparents, she agrees to marry the winner of a blood-sport tournament of suitors--an elimination match to the death. But her heart really belongs to Caspion, her childhood friend.

Trehan Daciano, the "Prince of Shadows" and a vampire, is a merciless assassin from the Realm of Blood and Shadows. Anyone who enters the secretive Realm is forbidden to leave. Trehan's task is to assassinate those who escape. Caspion entered the Realm and sneaked out, and Daciano is after him. Daciano himself is allowed to leave and return--unless he is seen.

After tracking Caspion to Abaddon, he gets mysteriously drawn to Bettina. He discovers that she is his Bride. She "bloods" him, which means that his heart starts beating, his lungs start breathing, and his … manly bits start working again. Although he lusts after Bettina (it's been one thousand years, after all), she also fascinates him. He brings her to life in more ways than one. He wants to win her over and claim her as his Bride, but Caspion and Trehan's need to assassinate him stand between them.

Trehan leaves his entire life--and his chance at the crown of the Realm of Blood and Mist--behind by showing himself at the tournament and entering the contest for Bettina's hand. But Caspion does, too. And only one can survive.

♥

Kresley Cole has done it again. She's written a sexy, suspenseful, action-packed page-turner with characters you'll love, subtle humor that will have you snickering, and dark moments that will kick you in the gut. You'll be sorry to read "The End" (so to speak).

What I love about Trehan is that he truly appreciated Bettina as a person, and not just as his fated Bride. I also love that he isn't perfect--at times he is even unsure of himself in spite of being a strong, decisive Alpha male. Bettina turns his world upside-down, and he doesn't know how to handle it.

Bettina has the best humorous inner dialog and lines. Watch for the subtle humor and inside jokes. Bettina doesn't have it easy, however. She has a long, difficult journey as she learns a number of lessons about life and the nature of love.

Shadow's Claim takes place in theImmortals After Dark universe. In the timeline, it runs roughly parallel to Lothaire (Lothaire gets 4.5♥s, and 5.0♥s for its sexy cover!). The events in Lothaire affect Trehan, as the Dacians affected events in Lothaire. We also see behind the scenes of those events. And why Trehan was so brooding in Lothaire.

As a nod to fans, Cole includes cameo appearances in Shadow's Claim from some favorite Immortals After Dark characters. It would be a spoiler to name them. You'll just have to enjoy finding out for yourself.

MacRieve (Immortals After Dark, #13) has a brief set-up in Shadow's Claim. Judging by the topics of conversation, I believe that Immortals After Dark #14 does also. As of this writing, The Dacians #2 hasn't been announced. But I look forward to it!

Happy reading!

Read a USA Today interview with Kresley Cole in which she discusses Lothaire, Shadow's Claim and MacRievehere.

When things go bump in the night, Logan bumps back. Vampires, demons, succubi—you name it, he's fought it. His job as Paladin angel warrior is to protect humans. Not fall for one.

She Never Believed in Divine Intervention...Until Now

Detective Jessica Waters protects humans too-with her Glock and a good set of handcuffs. She doesn't believe in fate. But if anyone looks like a gift from the gods, it's Logan. And he clearly knows more about her case than he's letting on...

♥

Logan Calhoun is a Paladin, one of God's Warriors. He's a descendant of an angel who came to earth to help humanity. Logan protects humans from the evil that they aren't aware of and aren't capable of fighting. He's the last full-blooded Paladin, and as such he's expected to follow in his father's footsteps as head of the council of Paladins. He has heavy responsibilities.

And those responsibilities don't allow for getting involved with a human.

Jessica Waters' faith is in the tangible. She believes in just the facts, ma'am. She's a detective who is haunted by a tragedy in her past. That tragedy drives her to catch killers. But when she takes on a case of murder in which Logan's friend is implicated, she is unknowingly put into danger from Logan's world. That danger escalates when Logan is inexplicably drawn to Jessica. In spite of her better judgment, she is also drawn to him.

"Theirs was definitely not a match made in heaven."

Everything is wrong with their relationship. He is a man of faith, she is a woman of suspicion and skepticism. He is risking his status as a Paladin for her and she is risking her job as a detective for him. And yet they can't stay away from each other.

Life as they know it, their relationship, and their very lives are in danger from forces gathering against them from all sides.

♥

Logan is a protective hero who is deadly in a fight, and yet tender when the moment calls for it. He's a character you'll fall in love with. And you'll definitely want to get carried away with him in a painting loft. (But you'll have to read that for yourself!) Jessica is a loner. A tough, kick-ass heroine who needs to let go of what is festering inside of her. Her journey is the greater one in the story.

The suspense and the danger will keep you turning the pages. And if you're the kind of person who cries while reading books, keep a tissue handy.

All in all, Deliver Me From Temptation is a story of faith. But the lesson that's learned may surprise you.

♥

Although Deliver Me From Temptation can be read as a stand-alone book, you'll enjoy it more if you read Deliver Me From Darkness first. Enjoy both books!

November New Releases Giveaway

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Shadow's Claim
(Immortals After Dark:
The Dacian's, #1)
Kresley Cole

Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament— to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . . .

Wild About You
(Love at Stake, #13)
Kerrelyn Sparks

Handsome Howard . . .
Hunky Howard . . .
Hot Howard . . .

It's not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels delicate, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she were a pot of honey he'd like to lick . . .Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he's a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp—and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

3. Please enter once per e-mail address. I will NOT put your e-mail address on any mailing list.

4. Contest ends at midnight, U.S. Eastern Standard Time, November 30, 2012.

6. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

7. The winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the end of the contest, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The winner must contact me by reply e-mail within 24 hours to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed by then, another winner will be chosen and given 24 hours to respond.

8. A shortened version of the winner's name and city will be posted once the prize is claimed.

9. The winner will receive one paperback copy each of:

Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks

10. Substitutions will be made in the case of unforeseen circumstances prior to shipping. The books will be shipped directly from Amazon.com or The Book Depository.

The fine print: Paranormal Romance by Lisa Annesley will not be responsible for: (a) electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (b) any giveaway disruptions caused by events beyond our control or by unauthorized human intervention.

Seven months after the events in Dragon Bound, Pia reflects on her relationship with …

Dragos, who was primitive, powerful, domineering, calculating, manipulative infernally clever and tactless, and who she adored with all of her heart. Dragos, who created as many problems as he solved, and who loved her too, fiercely, so much so he had mated with her. Their lives had become inextricably entwined, and they had to work together for things now.

Which meant they needed to figure out how to be partners …

But how could Pia, a young woman in her twenties, become a partner with one of the oldest creatures on earth? A Powerful Beast who had never been a partner with anyone before? Neither Pia or Dragos knows the answer.

Their partnership is tested when Pia travels to South Carolina to meet with the Elves. When Dragos pursued Pia in Dragon Bound, he broke many treaties with the Elves. Relations with the Elves need to be repaired because there is border strife and a crippling trade embargo. Pia's negotiations with the Elves are delicate and crucial.

Dragos can't travel with Pia, and he is beside himself with worry, as they've never been apart. To add to his concern, Pia is pregnant with their Powerful son, "Peanut."

Dragos must stay in New York because he is hosting the Sentinel Games. He lost two of his Sentinels—Tiago and Rune— when they found their mates. They are to be replaced in elimination matches between hundreds of contests over many days. Even Dragos's current Sentinels must compete.

Negotiations with the Elves don't proceed according to plan. Pia finds herself in the middle of a deadly situation that threatens not only the demesne of the Elves, but the world …

♥

Lord's Fall is a beautiful love story that will warm the hearts of fans of Dragos and Pia. There is tenderness, comedy, page-turning action, and hot smex. Did I say hot smex? Let's just say that you'll never look at a man in a designer suit and sunglasses the same way again.

Thea Harrison not only advanced the overall story arc of the series, she gave a gift to readers. And the greatest gift comes at the end of the book. Don't miss it.

I'm going to allow the book to speak for itself. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Dragos: Her pearly luminescence filtered through his dark lashes and lit all the dark corners inside of him.

Pia: You can take the girl out of a Target store, she thought, but you can't take the Target store out of the girl.

Dragos to Pia: "I'm vulnerable in ways I've never been before … But in ways, I'm stronger and better with you than without."

Pia to Dragos: "Because you're the meanest, strongest, toughest, son of a bitch I know...and I mean all of that as a total heartfelt compliment."

Dragos: She had come into his life to steal from him, and in the process she had given him everything she had.

If you're a fan of the Elder Races series, Lord's Fall should be next on your TBR pile. If you haven't read the series, start with Dragon Bound and enjoy!

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About Me

Welcome to Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley! I'm an aspiring author writing under the name Lisa Annesley. I'm currently writing a wolf-shifter paranormal romance, usually with a cat walking across my keyboard. Some days his muse is very inspired. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and several chapters.

I use what I've learned about writing to help with my book reviews. I also just use my plain ol' gut reactions to books. Reading is an experience that should draw us in and involve us in the story's world. The best books stay with us long after we've read The End.

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